Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

This tree is single-sexed (dioecious), growing up to 30 m tall, with rough pale-brown bark. It is, or was formerly, one of the largest native Hawaiian trees. The leaves are thin, dark green on top and pale green on the bottom (4-14 cm long, 2-9 cm wide). The small flowers are green with brown tips, on pedicels (stalks) 3-14 mm long, and the sepals are 1-2.5 mm long. The fruits are round and tiny, 3-6 mm in diameter, juicy, and reddish brown to black.

(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

A number of strategies have been employed to help this plant survive. Researchers at the National Tropical Botanical Garden and The University of Hawaii have collected and stored seeds and experimented with growing the plants in greenhouses. NTBG currently has 43 living individuals in its garden. Army Environmental staff have fenced and eradicated harmful invasive species located nearby individuals growing on their land on Oahu. Genetic studies have shown some individuals and populations to be more resistant to the borer than others.

(http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2945)

The wood of Flueggea neowawraea is known for its extraordinary hardness, and was used by Hawaiians for weaponry.

(http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2945)

This tree is found in mesic forest communities on the leeward sides of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai.

(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

An introduced insect, the black twig borer (Xylosandrus compactus) is largely responsible for the tree’s scarcity. The insect bores into leafy twigs, killing them, and attacks young saplings before they have a chance to reproduce. Stumps of old trees often continue to send up young shoots, so this species may still have a chance at surviving. In addition, adults of the introduced rose beetle feed on the leaves and often defoliate plants, at least those in cultivation.

(Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i)

This is one of the rarest endemic trees in Hawai’i: only 70 individuals are known in 30 populations.

(http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=2945)

We currently have 45 herbarium specimens for Flueggea neowawraea in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 005147 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1979
• 036171 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 014939 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1987
• 026832 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1990
• 012030 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 012995 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1991
• 013758 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
• 019256 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1992
• 033689 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1994
• Unassigned - collected by Steve Perlman in 1994
• 021566 - collected by Steve Perlman in 1994
• 021164 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1994
• 027309 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1996
• 026878 - collected by K. R. Wood in 1999
• Unassigned - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 051991 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 051988 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054734 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054736 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054733 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054725 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054878 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054883 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 054877 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2001
• 061258 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
• 061260 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
• 061257 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
• 061256 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2002
• 045755 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2004
• 045675 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2004
• 051129 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2006
• 047873 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2006
• 021508 - collected by Steve Perlman in 2007
• 065369 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 065473 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• S065784 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 065462 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 065467 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 065361 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2013
• 071476 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2015
• 082286 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2016
• Unassigned - collected by Adam M. Williams in 2016
• 081203 - collected by Seana Walsh in 2018
• 083490 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2020
• 088913 - collected by Ben Nyberg in 2021